Aug 6, 1812
With Mrs. Gardiner at Pemberley
DARCY
Good morning, Mrs. Gardiner. I've just come up from the lake to fetch a special fishing lure for your husband.
MRS. GARDINER
Yes, he has quite a collection himself at home.
DARCY
Has my sister made you feel welcome?
MRS. GARDINER
Oh, yes indeed, Mr. Darcy. She's just showing Lizzy a sculpture.
DARCY
Ah, yes. Probably the piece I described to Miss Elizabeth last April.
MRS. GARDINER
Yes, Lizzy told me all about her trip to Rosings.
DARCY
Oh?
MRS. GARDINER
I must say that she found your proposal to be quite unexpected.
DARCY
What? My proposal? She told you about my proposal?
MRS. GARDINER
Excuse me?
DARCY
My word. I dread to imagine what you must think of me.
MRS. GARDINER
I don't understand, Mr. Darcy.
DARCY
What did she say exactly?
MRS. GARDINER
I was speaking of your proposal to my husband, to take him fishing.
DARCY
Oh, heavens.
MRS. GARDINER
Lizzy never expected such kindness.
DARCY
Good god.
MRS. GARDINER
I'm sorry, Mr. Darcy. Have I trod on some private ground between you and my niece?
DARCY
I'm afraid so.
MRS. GARDINER
I, um...
DARCY
Um...
MRS. GARDINER
I'm beginning to understand Lizzy's recent behaviour.
DARCY
I manage to make a fool of myself whenever Miss Elizabeth is in my mind.
MRS. GARDINER
Perhaps we should leave Pemberley at once.
DARCY
Oh, no. No, no. You must stay to dinner tomorrow.
MRS. GARDINER
But sir, my husband and I have forced our niece to come here, and the entire time we had no idea what she was going through.
DARCY
I need to make her understand that I harbour no ill will against her.
MRS. GARDINER
For Lizzy's sake, I think we should go.
DARCY
But she's getting along with my sister, is she not? Please stay for Georgiana's sake. I'll keep away from Miss Elizabeth if you wish.
MRS. GARDINER
Well...
DARCY
And I must say that neither Bingley nor I want to see your husband leave just yet. He's an excellent fellow.
MRS. GARDINER
Well...
DARCY
He's already depleted one of my ponds of its fish.
Next dialogue: Louisa and Mrs. Gardiner
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